Bears might be meeting their match on defensive side

It would have been easy enough to capture the players’ attention by simply flipping on video of Illinois’ 2423 upset over Rose Bowlbound Wisconsin, but the Cal coaches wanted to convey something entirely different during preparation for Monday’s Redbox Bowl.

The Bears watched the Fighting Illini’s game against thenNo. 16 Michigan, during which Illinois fought back from a 280 deficit to cut its deficit to three points in the fourth quarter.

“They don’t quit,” Cal center Michael Saffell said. “This is an effortbased defense. With their defensive line, if they don’t beat you oneonone, they’re going to run to the ball and outeffort you.”

When Cal meets Illinois at 1 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, it will be a matchup of hardnosed, neverwaveaflag teams trying to take the next step for renovated programs.

The Bears (75) are making consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since the team’s seven straight bowl games from 2003 through ’09. They’re looking for just their second postseason victory this decade, having won only the Armed Forces Bowl in 2015.

“It’s a really big game for our program,” Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said. “The motivation shouldn’t be very difficult. We have a chance to play in a bowl game against Illinois, get an eighth win, finish the season the right way and create momentum into next year.”

The Illini (66) qualified for the postseason for the first time since losing to Louisiana Tech in the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl. They haven’t finished at .500 or better since going 76 in 2011.

“I have faith in what we’re doing,” said Illinois head coach Lovie Smith, who took over the struggling program in 2016. “I have faith in the players, the process, the coaches, everything we have in place. There have been steps along the way. … We’ve had a lot of people who have planned their Christmases without a bowl game for a lot of years, so this is an emotional time for us.”

The leadup to the game has been fascinating between two likeminded coaches considered among the brightest defensive brains in the country. Wilcox studied Smith’s Super Bowl teams (St. Louis in 2002 and Chicago in 2006) as a young coach at Boise State and has been effusive in his praise during the past three weeks.

When the coaches spent half a day together for bowl promotions Dec. 12, Wilcox peppered Smith with questions.

“I probably bothered him,” Wilcox joked.

The results have been clear. The coaches have mentored two of the most productive linebackers in the nation.

Cal’s Evan Weaver, on Sunday named one of seven finalists for the Lombardi Award, leads the country in total tackles (173) and solo tackles (95). He’s 20 shy of the NCAA season record set by Texas Tech’s Lawrence Flugence in 2002.

The closest player to Weaver’s eyepopping numbers this season is Illinois linebacker Dele Harding, who has 147 tackles. Harding also has 13 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two touchdowns.

Asked if he has 21 more tackles in him, Weaver joked: “I think have 45. Maybe 60, depending on the day.”

Less assured is who exactly will be manning certain positions. Cal safety Ashtyn Davis had seasonending surgery, and receiver Jordan Duncan and outside linebacker Tevin Paul will miss the game for undisclosed reasons.

For Illinois, receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe (33 catches for 634 yards and nine touchdowns) and quarterback Brandon Peters (130for238 for 1,611 yards and 17 touchdowns to seven interceptions) missed the regularseason finale.

The game also will mark a changing of the guard for Cal’s offense, which will return 10 starters next season, but few of its coaches. Offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin was named Cal Poly’s head coach and is taking running backs coach Nicholas Edwards with him, and offensive line coach Steve Greatwood will retire after the bowl game.

“We’ve still got one more game to win with them,” Cal receiver Nikko Remigio said.